Pearisburg, VA to Buena Vista, VA

Day 3, Saturday, May 25

Bailey Gap Shelter to Laurel Creek Shelter, 14.6 miles

Awake at 6:15 AM, up at 6:30 AM. Another bright, clear morning. A little warmer this morning, almost 55 degrees. We pack up, eat a cold breakfast, and head out at 7:15 AM, leaving the Isle of Guernsey still asleep in the shelter.

The first two miles are rough and rocky climbing over the ridges above the shelter, but then the trail gets better. We take a short break after an hour and then press on reaching the Salt Sulfur Turnpike at 9 AM.

It’s a short hike up to Wind Rock with a great view of Stony Creek Valley below. The next two miles are great trail and go fast. We take a short break near the swampy area on Salt Pond Mountain. Then it’s a long downhill, steep at first, before reaching War Spur Shelter at 11:30 AM. We take a long lunch break there until 12:20 PM. From there it’s a short easy hike down to VA 632.

We cross the dirt road and head into the woods on the other side…uphill. The uphills are really taking a toll on me so far. They don’t seem to bother Todd or Brian. They zoom right on up the trail. I have to stop often. My legs have no energy in them.

The next two miles are a struggle for me. I’m low on water, it’s over 80 degrees, and I have hit my wall again. It always seems to happen on my third day out. After three days I usually begin to get stronger. Todd goes ahead of me, but waits for me at the next road crossing. Brian must be feeling better that I do. He’s already gone ahead up the next hill, a steep one up John’s Creek Mountain.

It takes me 30 minutes to cover the next half-mile, but thankfully the trail finally levels out. Todd is waiting on top. At least he gets a lot of breaks the way I’m hiking. I’m out of water and feeling it, but now it’s only two-and-a-half miles to Laurel Creek Shelter. The next mile-and-a-half is flat and rocky, but it goes fast. We finally catch Brian waiting at the Kelly Knob Overlook side trail. We all walk out to the overlook. It’s a great view from huge flat-top rocks on the side of the mountain. From here it’s only a mile to the shelter. But downhillllll! Mt feet and thighs can’t take much more. I need rest and water. I may have to rethink the high mileage days ahead. If the weather stays this warm, it’ll be tough to stay on my original schedule.

We reach the shelter about 4 PM. The first order of business is water. I grab my water bag and walk down to the creek just below the shelter. It’s a big stream and the water is cold! I fill the bag and walk back to the shelter and begin pumping.

Todd and Brian clean up a bit and come back to help. We fill everything and I get one more bag and fill everything more. I’m not going to be short on water any more.

The U.K. guys, “Guern” and “Donkey”, show up and it looks like it will be five of us again tonight. I head back one final time to the creek for water….this time to clean up with. I take a quick bath while the others are cooking their suppers. Soon, I’m human again and ready to cook my supper. First soup, then chicken and rice. It’s great and I’ve finally reduced some pack weight. The last several days we’ve eaten Subways and haven’t cooked any of the food we’ve been carrying.

By 6:30 PM I’m finished eating and start cleaning up. By 7 PM I’m ready to relax, sort out food, plan tomorrow, etc. Everyone is in bed by 8:30 PM. Hikers sure go to bed early.

Around 3 AM I hear a huge flutter of wings and an owl screams at the shelter as it flies by.